Memoranda of Understanding for C929 Aircraft Signed in Paris
At the COMAC booth, the company displays various aircraft models to visitors, including the C909, C919, and C929 models, as well as several variants.
CGTN – The Chinese aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp (COMAC) signed new memoranda of understanding with foreign suppliers for its C929 wide-body aircraft model during the Paris Air Show 2025, indicating another step forward for COMAC in the model's development process, according to a report by the China Daily.
Shanghai-based COMAC signed agreements with French aircraft manufacturer Safran and US manufacturer Crane Co. for the C929 model on Monday. With a projected range of approximately 12 kilometers and 280 seats, the C929 is currently in the design phase, the company reported.
At the COMAC booth at the air show, the company displays various aircraft models to visitors, including the C909, C919, and C929 models, as well as several variants.
Air China, the Chinese state-owned airline, is set to become the world's first airline to operate the C929, after signing a framework agreement with COMAC during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, in November.
"The signing of the memoranda of understanding between COMAC, Safran, and Crane indicates that the C929 model has entered a supplier selection phase, and COMAC has taken another step forward towards completing the research and development of the model and its entry into the market," stated Lin Zhijie, an independent analyst in the civil aviation sector.
According to COMAC, a total of 165 C909 regional aircraft, with a capacity of 78 to 97 passengers and a range of 2.225 km to 3.700 km, have been put into commercial operation by national and international airlines. The C909 is the new name for the ARJ21 regional jet developed in the country.
The three foreign airlines from Southeast Asia that use the C909 -- Lao Airlines, Vietjet Air and Indonesia's TransNusa Airlines -- have launched a total of 15 routes operated by this model, connecting 18 cities.
Furthermore, the C919 single-aisle aircraft, with a capacity of 158 to 192 passengers and a range of 4.075 km to 5.555 km, has already received more than a thousand domestic and international orders. To date, 20 jets have been delivered to domestic airlines for commercial flights, and the model is accelerating its certification process in international markets.
"The success of the C919's commercial operation has already broken the duopoly of the two main mainline aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus. To enter the international market in the future and create a balanced situation among the three manufacturers, several important advances are needed," Lin noted.
Specifically, COMAC needs to obtain airworthiness certification from the European Union or the United States and have mass production capabilities, in addition to presenting records of safe operation and improved economic performance of the model, he added.
In another development, COMAC has been committed to developing environmentally friendly aircraft and is actively integrating into the sustainable development process of the global aviation industry. Currently, the C909 and C919 models have the capability to operate commercial flights using up to 50% blended sustainable aviation fuel, according to COMAC.
By 2043, China will surpass North America and Europe to become the world's largest aviation services market. By then, China is expected to have 11.160 aircraft in service, of which 9.520 will be new deliveries, including passenger and freighter aircraft, according to the latest global services forecast by European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
The country's civil aviation market has seen rapid growth this year, transporting 190 million passengers in the first quarter, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Source: Xinhua